Apparatus for decorating dinnerware and the like



NUQ Q A. J. WAHL 2,540,920 APPARATUS FOR DECORATING DINNERWARE AND THE LixE (Feb. 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1946 @vI /A- ORNEY INVENTOR V Alben J [Viz/2!. Y

. mm m Feb. 6, 1951 w H 2,540,920

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING DINNERWARE AND THE LIKE Filed April 25, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 61 A VS 0 [55 I I6] I57 gfi V I A. J. WAHL 2,540,920

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING DINNERWARE AND THE LIKE Feb. 6; 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 25, 1946 L w 3 c/ ww QM Mv E Feb. 6, 1951 A. J. WAHL 2,540,920

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING DINNERWARE AND THE LIKE Filed April 25, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY 9 7 X+m Patented Feb. 6, 1951 7 APPARATUS FOR DECORATING DINNER- WARE AND THE LIKE Albert J. Wahl, Pleasant Hills, Pa., assignor to Miller Pottery Engineering Company, Swissvalc, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 23, 1946, Serial No. 664,244

This invention relates to apparatus for decorating dinnerware and the like. It has to do with apparatus for applying single or plural lines, bands, or stripes to the display surface of the ware. The operation is sometimes called lining or banding or striping and apparatus for performing the operation is often referred to as lining, banding or "striping machinery.

For many years, this form of decoration was applied almost exclusively by skilled artisans who painted the lines on the ware by hand. It was a slow and laborious task and very costly. Great difliculty was experienced in making lines of uniform thickness and in uniformly locating and spacing them apart.

Some efforts have been made recently to perform the operation mechanically. This has resulted in some reduction in cost and the production of a more uniformly decorated product; however, the machinery has been cumbersome and complex and expensive to construct and maintain. For another thing, those machines capable of plural lining operations have, for the most part, required separate stations for performing the several operations.

Some of the objects of this invention are to provide an improved mechanical striping machine that is simple in construction and operaticn, lines the ware automatically at a single station, centers the ware before it is lined and is capable of making plural lines of the same or varying width and of the same or contrasting colors s multaneously. Another object is to provide a compact, unitary, manually controlled machine having a high production capacity.

In accordance with this invention, the machine has a single ware supporting chuck adjacent to which are mounted a plurality of applicators, each independently supported and actuated. said applicators are adapted to be moved inwardly toward and outwardly away from the surface of the ware by improved automatic means and also to be moved in a direction to cause the widening of a band, line or stripe automatically when in engagement with the ware. Furthermore, the machine is manually controllable with respect to starting the same and upon the completion of a ware decorating cycle is automatically stopped and the finished piece automatically discharged.

ters designate corresponding parts and wherein:

9 Claims; (01. 91---1Z) Figure 1 is a plan view of the preferred form of lining machine.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine as it would appear when viewed from the left of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a right side elevation of the ma:- chine.

Figure 4 is a left side elevation of the: machine.

Figure 5 is a detail in section of the banding wheel shaft and associated support.

Figure 6 is a detail in section of a part of the banding wheel supporting and actuating apparatus.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, l is a base plate on which the machine is assembled. Mounted on the base is a shaft housing 2 having an elongated horizontal bearing 3 on the top thereof in which a continuously rotating horizontal chuck shaft 4 is received. Said shaft has a drive pulley 5 fixed on one end thereof to be driven by a belt 6 connected to a pulley I secured to the shaft 8 of a drive motor 9 controlled by manual switch IQ. On the opposite side of the housing is a gear box It containing a reduction gear drive (not shown) driven by a pulley l2 also connected to belt 5. A power take-off shaft I3 extends from the gear box through the lower side of housing 2 and has a sprocket I4 fixed thereon which drives a chain [5 connected to a sprocket [5 attached to the driving disc I! of a conventional single revolution clutch I8. The driven member I9 has a projecting pin 20 to be engaged by a vertical control lever 2| pivoted on the base I, thereby to disengage the clutch. Said clutch is mounted on intermittently rotated. cam shaft 22 with the driven member I9 secured to said shaft and the driving member I! rotating freely thereon. Said shaft is supported by pedestai bearings 23 mounted on opposite sides of the base. The shaft extends through a hole in housing 2 and has several operating cams mounted thereon whose function and purpose will be hereinafter explained.

Chuck shaft d a ware chuck thereon in the form of a circular disc 24 fixed on the end opposite pulley 5. The disc diameter is greater than the diameter of the largest foot ring of ware to be decorated. Cemented or otherwise secured to the face of the disc is a pad of resilient material 25, preferably rubber or rubber like composition. Since the ware to be decorated is to be gripped to the cushion surface provided by the pad 25, means are provided whereby this may be accomplished by vacuum. To this end, shaft 24 is bored lengthwise through the center to form a passage which registers at the chuck end with center holes in the disc 2d and pad 25. At the pulley end, a conventional form of rotary shaft seal 21, Figure 4, is supported on an upright 28 and connects the passage 26 in airtight leakproof relation with a stationary vacuum pipe 29 leading to avacuum valve 35, Figure l, operated by a cam 3I' fixed on cam shaft 22. Said valve is connected with a source of vacuum (not shown) by pipe 29.

ring 32 forms a seal with the pad to thereby make the vacuum eifective to hold the plate in position on the chuck.

To center the plate on the chuck, there is provided a centering apparatus comprising a circular gear 33 mounted on shaft 4 between the ware chuck and the forward end of bearing 3: This gear is freely rotatable on said shaft and is turnedin one direction'or the other bya cam 34 (Figure 31) fixed on cam shaft 2 2 Said cam engages a' cam roller 35 rot'atably secured to a leverfl'ii having across bearing t i 'fixed to-the rear end thereof that is sleeved on a fulcrum-pin S8 secure'cl' in-the side of the housing 2. The free end of lever 36 is connected by a toggle rod" 39 th a bars!) bolted or otherwise secured toge'ar 33. Thus, when lever 36 is raised by the cam, the gear i's-caused tb turn in a counterclockwise direction and in a reverse direction-when the lever is lowcred; byfspring'ii (Figure 13).

Fixed onthe projecting end-of shaft bearing 3 at the chuck end is a spider ii (Figures Z 'a'nd S).

A holeisdrilledin-eachlegof the spider on 120 centers, each hole to receive a headed bolt it. R'otatablymounted on each bolt 43 is-a gear ti inmesh with gear 33; Each gear 44 has an axial hub on which" a roller support 45- is clamped. Each roller support carries a centering roller i? preferablyfaced with resilient material so as to avoid; damaging the brim of the Ware, and

mounted on a roller bearingto turn easily. Thus,

when'these centering rollers, that arespaced 120 apart, are simultaneously moved inwardly into engagement-With the brimof a plate or the like When a plate M or the liketo be decorated is pressed against the pad 25, the foot held on' the rotating chuck, they will operat'et'o correct an centering error by shiftin the plate to'a position concentric with the axis of shaft i.

Ipriop'oseto apply to-thesurface cf'the ware a plurality of bands, lines or stripes of the same or'varying'widthsand of the same or contrasting colorsat a single station or during what may be calleda' single decorating operation. Thus, the full complement of bands, lines or stripes to be appliedto a given piece of ware may possibly be a'ppliedin the interval ordinarily required to paint a single band, line or'stripe on the ware, thus saving considerable time in the ultimate completion of "thedecorati'ng operation.

Furthermore, I propose to provide forwidening or increasing the thickness or width of the band, lin'eorstripe as it" is being applied to the surface of the ware by moving the banding disc in an arcuate path over the surface of the ware and about an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of the wars or theware chuck. I also-propose to provide for making concentric circles or lines on the surfaceof theware' of the same or varied widtli'an'd-thicknesswith a single banding disc or wheel; 1? also propose to providefor making interrupted" lines, bands or stripes of the same or 'variedwidthor thickness.

, The banding disc assembly, three of'which are shown herein for the purpose'o'f'illustration, are

identical in construction. The banding discs are numbered 48, 49 and 59 for convenience of identification, however, since each of the assemblies are substantially the same, I will describe in detail only the assembly associated with banding disc or wheel 48. Thus, banding disc 48 is carried by a support which includes a shafti5l, Figure' 5', mounted for rotation in a tubular sleeve or bearing 52 fixed to the top of rod 53. The banding disc or Wheel is demountably clamped on shaft 51 between a: disc 55, fixed on'said shaft, and a removable disc 55 to be tightened against the banding wheel by nut 51. At the opposite extremity, theshouldered end of the shaft proje'cts beyond the. sleeve and has a washer 58 tightened against'the shoulder by a nut'59. Only a. minimum clearance is allowed between the sleeve end and the washer so as to avoid end play.

Rod 53 is carried by a clamp 60 which is clamped around a tubular sleeve 6i, Figure 1, locatedinfront of? the chuck and extending; at rightanglestothe axisof thenhuck: Theibands ing wheel may beadjusted inwardly toward or outwardly away from the work by loosening clamp BEI'andturning it onisleeve'fi'i. The position. of the wheel inwardly from'the outer rim: of. the wareican'be adjusted by sliding the clamp inalong the sleeve to the desired'location. The banding wheel may" also be adjusted byturning. therod 53 in its socket in clamp 60. It may be'tightened'in adjusted po'sition by a set screw 62; Fig:-

ure 3.

Tubular" sleeve 5! is mounted on a. shaft 63; Figure 6, that is screwed tightly intoa tapped hole in a bar 64 Welded or otherwise secured to'a tubular sleeve 65' arranged at right angles to sleeve 60. Said shaft is shouldered at thei-oppo'- site end and nut 56 is screwed on the. reduced end-against a washer 6?. The sleeve6=I is rotatable on said shaft and is rotated thereon by means tobe-later described.

Tubular sleeve 55, Figurefi, is rotatably sup-- ported on a shaft I50; The ends of said shaft are reduced and'threadedand one end-is received in a slot I5I, Figure 2, in a frame member I523 The working. position of the banding wheel diametrically of the ware may be adjusted by shifting the shaft I5Il fr0m one position to another along the slot. The shaft is held in adjusted position by tightening nut I53 against washer I54 thereby clamping the frame between it-and another washer I55 fitted against the shoulder formed by the reduced end. A nut I56 andwasher I51 on the other end of the shaft limits axial play of the sleeve.

To rotate the sleeve, and to thereby cause. the banding Wheel to move in an arcuate path across the surface of the ware for widening Or broadeninga band,.stripe. or line, an angul'arly adjustable collar I58 is fitted on the sleeve and is held in position by a set screw I59. The axis of. rotation of sleeve 65 is parallel with the axis of rotation of the chuck, whereas the axis of rotation of sleeve 6| is normal thereto. imparted to the banding wheel may be called a traversing'motion albeit the path of travel of the banding-wheel across the surface of the ware follows an arcuate path having as its center the axis of rotation of sleeve 65.

Collar E58 has a tapped hole I65 therein into which one end of a connecting rod I'fiiI1 (Figure 2) is screwed. Said rod is connected-by a-toggle joint I52 to another a'ndiextens'ible rod 68 (Figure 1), extending at right angles thereto and this rod is connected by atoggljoint 69; to a b'ell The movement and 89 attached to the machine frame.

crank mounted on a post H located near the side of the base plate. The other lever arm of the bell crank which is located at another level relative to the other arm, is connected by a toggle joint 12 to a horizontal rod 13 connected to a vertical lever 14 pivoted on the base plate. Said lever has a cam roller 15 attached thereto and at the top has an offset bar 19 through which a stroke adjusting screw H is threaded. This screw is adapted to engage a horizontal, stationary stop bar 18 mounted on an upright 19 secured to the base plate. Lever 14 is moved in one direction by a cam 89 fixed on shaft 22 and in the other by a return spring at. When lever 14 is moved to the left, Figure 1, motion is transmitted through the linkage described to bushing I52 to rotate the same in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. The action will cause sleeve ,51 and consequently banding disc 49 to turn about the axis of rod 63 thus providing the shifting of the banding disc over the surface of ware undergoing decorating. This motion may be em-- ployed for widening a stripe or band being applied to the ware or for making concentric circles if the disc is moved back from the surface of the ware while the shift is being made.

Banding wheels 49 and 59 are supported and actuated by apparatus substantially identical with that just described in connection with disc 48. Rather than repeat the description, I have designated those parts which are identical, by the same reference characters as used in con nection with banding wheel 43 assembly except in the case of handing wheel assembly 49, have added a prime suffix and in the case of banding wheel assembly 59, have added a double prime suffix.

Thus, in the instance of banding wheel 49, the stop bar F8 is common to both levers l4 and 14 whereas in the case of lever l4" on the opposite side of the machine, a separate stop bar 82 is provided for limiting the stroke of lever 14". Also, the slots 15!, Hit in member i52 are located at difierent levels in order to avoid interference between the sleeves 65, E55 and 55" when shifted from one position to another. The fact that toggle joints of the conventional ball and socket variety are employed to connect the various push rods of each actuating mechanism together will permit horizontal adjustment of sleeves 55, 65' and G5" in many instances without the necessity for disconnecting the rods.

To move the banding discs in toward the ware and outwardly away therefrom, each clamp 69 has a bent lever 85, depending therefrom provided with an adjustable set screw 89 threaded into the lower end thereof. Said screws are adapted to be engaged by a movable pusher plate 81 that is pivoted at the ends on stub shafts 88 An extension lever 99, Figure 4, formed integral with one of the ends is for turning the pusher plate on its pivot. Said lever has a cam roller 9! engaging cam 92 on shaft 22. 93 is a return spring. Thus, as cam 92 revolves, pusher plate 3'! is moved to the left, Figure e, to cause the banding discs to be retracted from the surface of the ware, and as the cam lowers lever 99, springs 95, 99 and 96" move the discs 43, 49 and 59 respectively in toward the ware to be decorated to the limit allowed by set screws 86, 86' and 86'. Thus, an adjustment may be made which will permit one banding wheel to operate before another. Springs 94, 94 and 94" permit the banding discs to move across the surface of the ware without losing contact.

Color may be supplied to the banding wheels in any suitable manner. I have shown herein, more or less diagrammatically, a paint tank 95 having a power driven stirrer thereon from which paint is drawn by a power operated pump 96 and forced through pipe 91 into a header 98 servicing all of the banding discs. From outlets 99, flexible hoses I99, Hll and 12 are connected to paint receptacles H33, I94 and I95, respectively, associated with banding wheels 48, 49 and 50. These receptacles are shaped like wheel guards and are detachably supported from sleeve bearings 52, 52' and 52". They may, if desired, be provided with drain hoses (not shown) leading back to tank Wipers H16 inside each receptacle clean the radial faces of each banding disc of surplus paint. A separate paint supplying system similar to that shown may be incorporated for plural color work, in which case each banding disc would be separately supplied.

in order to discharge the ware from the machine automatically, a curved trough or chute i9? is positioned in a slot I98 in base plate I immediately below chuck 24-45. Thus, when the vacuum is discontinued, the ware will fall off the chuck by gravity onto the curved surface of the chute to be directed thereby to a place of deposit, as for instance, a continuously moving conveyor belt, not shown.

In operation, the operator places a piece of ware against pad 25 in as nearly central position as possible and then trips control lever 2|. Upon the commencement of rotation of shaft '22, earn 3| actuatcs valve 39 to thereby connect passage 26 to a source of vacuum thereby gripping the ware to the chuck. Cam 34 next lowers lever 31 and this causes the centering rollers 41 to engage and center'the ware, The cam is developed to provide a motion such that the rollers preferably move into centering position and are then instantly retracted before the banding discs engage the ware.

After the ware has been centered, the banding operation commences. discs may be caused to move inwardly simultaneously, by properly adjusting set screws 86,

86 and 86". On the other hand, one disc may be adjusted so as to move into engagement with the ware before another. This would be most likely to occur if a wide, thick line was being applied by one disc, and a thin line by another requiring less time to apply.

Thus, for the sake of illustration, disc 48 may be operated for making a wide line in the cycle of operations, this disc would engage the ware ahead of the other two discs and after a predetermined amount of rotation of the ware, cam 92 would allow lever 99'to be lowered further tothereby engage discs 49 and 56 either successively or simultaneously with the surface of the ware.

Before or after the engagement of discs 49 and 59 with the work, cam 80 may permit a traversing ,movernent of disc 48 to commence thereby to widen the stripe or line being produced. Cams 89 and 89" may be set to cause discs 49 and 50 to have a traversing motion imparted thereto after they have moved into engagement with the ware. If a traversing movement is not desired, for any given banding disc, the push rod asso ciated therewith may be disconnected. When the banding operation has been completed, the banding discs are retracted from thesur- All of the banding r 7.. facenof the ware. by, cams 80,,80 and fiflf and the vacuum valveclosedand the ware released from chuck 24-25; When pin 20 engagescontrollever 21., which has been spring returned to original position, the clutch is disconnected there'- by. stopping shaft 22.

,1 claim:

1. Dinnerware'lining apparatus comprising, a frame,- avacuum chuck mounted thereon having avacuum control valve, means for continuously rotating said chuck, movable ware centering means, a plurality of movable lining implements adjacent said chuck, a movable support for each implement, a single carrier upon which all said supports are adjustably mounted, each support beingiformed for rotation about an axis parallel to, the axis of rotation of the chuck and about an axis normalto the first named axis to effect liningo-perations, means for moving said lining implement. including .a cam shaft having a rtata'ble actuating cam thereon for each implement support to move them about one of their respective axes and another rotatable actuating cam, common to all of them for moving them about their other axis, cams also mounted on said cam shaft for actuating said vacuum control valve and said centering means, a drive for said cam shaft, a manually engageable single revolucos clutch for controlling the operation of said cam shaft, a source of said paint supply and means for conducting paint from the source to said-lining implement.

, implement formed for rotation about parallel axes rotary camactuated mechanism for operat- ,ing said vacuum valve, ware centering means and linin implement support, a drive for said cam actuating mechanism and a manually operable clutch for engaging said drive.

3. Dinnerware lining apparatus comprising, a

8 V V vacuumchuck arranged to supportware substantially vertically, means for continuously rotating said chuck, movable means for centering wareon said chuck, a lining implement adjacent said chuck, a support for said lining implement including a member rotatable about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said chuck and a member supporting said first named member rotatable about a horizontal axis normal to the first named axis to effect lining operations and cam actuated mechanism, including a rotatable cam, individual to each element of the support for moving each element about its respec- 'tive axis.

6. Dinnerware decorating machinery comprising, a frame, a shaft housing supported onsaid' 7 axis of said shaft and another part which is 1'0- frame, .a vacuum :chuck mounted thereon-having a yacuiun control valve, means for continuously rotating said, ware chuck, movable ware centeringflmeans, a plurality of lining implements adjacent said chuck, a support for each implement formed. for rotation about plural axes to effect lining operations, rotary cam actuating mechanism for operatingsaid vacuum valve, ware centering means and implementsupports, a drive for said cam actuating mechanism including a manujally engageable, single revolution clutch, a source of paint supply and means for conducting paint from thesource to said lining implements.

ifDinnerware lining apparatus comprising, a frame, a vacuum chuck arranged to rotate about a horizontal axis and to support ware substantialvertically, means for continuously rotating said chuck, a centering means for centering ware on saidchuck, freely rotatable lining implements ad- .liacent said chuck, a support for eachimplement tatable about an axis normal to the axis of the 7 other part for moving the decorating implement relative to the work, a stationary support for said "means and the individual parts of said carrier, a

drive for said cam shaft including a single revolution clutch and manually operable means for engaging the clutch.

7. Dinnerware lining apparatus, comprising a frame, a rotatable horizontal shaft borne thereby and provided at one of its ends with a chuck for holding a piece of Wars in a vertical plane, a support for a lining implement mounted for movement towards-and from said chuck, a lining implement mounted on said support, mechanism for rotating said shaft and for moving said implement support towards and from apiece of ware borne by said chuck, and means coordinated with said mechanism for moving said implement support during a lining operation in a directionsubstantially'radial of a piece of ware borne by said chuck to widen a line being applied to the ware.

8. Dinnerware lining apparatus, comprising a frame, a rotatable horizontal shaft borne thereby and provided at one of its ends with a chuck for holding a piece of ware in a vertical plane, a vertically disposed support for a lining implement pivotally mounted at its lower end for swinging its upper end towards and from said chuck, a disc-like lining implement rotatably mounted on the upper end of said support, mechanism for rotating said shaft and for swinging the upper end of said implement support towards and from a piece of ware borne by said chuck, and means coordinated with said mechanism for moving said implement support during a lining operation in a direction substantially radial of a piece of ware borne by said chuck to widen a line being applied to the ware.

9. Dinnerware lining apparatus, comprising a frame, a rotatable horizontal shaft borne thereby and provided at one of its end with a chuck for holding a piece of ware in a vertical plane, a vertically-disposed lining-instrument support pivotally mounted at its lower end for swinging its upper end towards and from said chuck,.and also 9 10 for swinging its upper end towards and from the REFERENCES CITED axisof rotation. Said chuck a lining implement The following references are of record in the mounted on said support, xnechamsm for rotatfile of this patent: ing said shaft and for swinging the upper end of said implement support towards and from said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS shaft, and means coordinated with said mechanism for swinging the upper end of said impleg g i gz 1 ment support durin a lining operation in a di- 2380509 Em 9 rection substantially radial of a piece of Ware erson "M15731, 1 45 borne by said chuck to widen a line being applied 10 to the ware.

ALBERT J. WAHL. 

